USB Cassette to MP3 Converter, Portable Walkman Cassette Audio Music Player Tape-to-MP3 Converter with Earphones, Volume Control, Auto Reverse, No PC Required

Had this for about a week. I returned a competitor unit (also about $30) because I had to hook it up to my computer to download music. I liked the idea that this one was self-contained (with a USB, stick, anyway). I also liked that it is SUPPOSED to break the songs up into separate files when it detects a break in the music. So far it's been doing what says EXCEPT that it doesn't always divide the songs up as advertised - that function is not reliable. I didn't want to have to use Audacity because it looks like an airline cockpit - way too many options. But I bit the bullet, watched a few YouTube videos and figured out how to split songs up with Audacity. So don't expect that function to work perfectly. But to be fair, they actually admit this in the documentation. This device is not intended to create studio quality recordings. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the quality of the final MP3 is actually OK for casual listening. It does a pretty good job for $30. I am happy with the purchase. However, I fully expect it to stop working because there is so much technology packed into this cheap little device. But until it quits working, I'm happy with it (I actually purchased the Asurion extended warranty - can't wait to see how that works out.). I would have paid more if it had the option to either have it stop at the end of the tape, or after switching sides once to be able to capture the whole tape hands-off. You can't just set it and forget it. You have to babysit it and stop it yourself. I haven't used ALL of the functions yet. The instructions are not horrible - typical translated instructions. So it is fairly easy to learn to use. Overall - it's pretty amazing that so much tech and capability is jammed into this little cheap looking/feeling device. I was looking at paying $200 for that Pyle tape deck with a USB output so that I could use it for my chrome and metal tapes with dolby, etc. But that one doesn't even do as much as this one does. It may have given me better quality recordings, but how much audiophile quality sound should I really be expecting out of a 40 year old cassette tape?!?! I am happy with the purchase and recommend it if you know what you're getting.One Month Update: As I surmised in my original review above, it didn't last long, so I'm changing my rating from 4 stars to one. It had been working fine and I was happy with it, then one day, it just stopped converting. The way it works is you insert your USB stick, then hold down a button till the LED turns from green to blue. Then you start your cassette playing and push another little button and the blue LED starts flashing telling you that it is converting. Well, a few minutes into the tape, the little LED would stop blinking for apparently no reason meaning the conversion had stopped. I tried "conditioning" the tape by forwarding and rewinding to eliminate any tension caused by misaligned tape in the cartridge - again to no avail. So I am returning it. But truth be told, I am just going to keep purchasing these things and returning them when they break until I finish converting all my old cassettes. It looks like one vendor sells the same thing for $25. Essentially, it's disposatech.

> This ain't a resurrected "Sony Walkman". It is NOT a good choice as a simple portable cassette player. It is a bare-bones simple cassette player only (albeit, with the ability to convert cassette recordings to MP3 and record the tracks directly to your thumbdrive). It is NOT a cassette recorder (that is, it does NOT record to cassettes). It does NOT have a radio. It does NOT have a speaker (although you may use earphones or earbuds). It does NOT support WiFi.> This review specifically discusses using the automatic function of this player/converter to convert audiotape cassette recordings to multiple MP3 files (tracks) directly on thumbdrives, without using any software on your computer.> Although this player/converter does have a “manual” mode, the primary strength of this machine (as opposed to many of the other similar player/converters) is the automatic conversion of analog audio recordings on cassette tapes into multiple digital (mp3) tracks directly on your thumbdrive. When this player/converter works well in automatic mode (see below), it is probably the easiest method to convert cassette tapes to mp3 files and therefore is the best choice. But chances are that you won't get that lucky (see below).> If you want to do ANY other task, then you don’t need this, nor any similar player/converter. You can just use any old cassette player, an inexpensive audio patch cord, your computer, and free software (such as “Audacity”).> Or you can purchase very similar "Cassette to MP3 Player/Converters" (with various brandnames) which come with audio patch cords and the audio software (on CD and/or downloadable) for about the same price as this player/converter. Those player/converters offer more flexibility, because you are more in control. Therefore they are a better choice with problem cassettes, or for users with the time (alot of time) and the motivation to produce the highest quality conversions.> Using the automatic function, this player/converter will save each “song” or each sentence (e.g., of an audiobook) into a separate MP3 file (track). You have NO control over how the software selects tracts. If there is too short a gap between two songs or two sentences, they may be recorded in the same MP3 track. Tracts may vary from a few words (part of a sentence) to a whole chapter, depending on the level of background noise on the tape and the narrator's reading style.> CAUTION – In the case of audiobooks, I found that up to several seconds at the beginning of a sentence may be truncated at the beginning of each track. The first track from "side B" of each cassette will invariably begin with 3 to 5 minutes of silence. Often the last recorded track of a cassette will be a large empty file. Various other extraneous empty tracks may be recorded (but these are easily deleted).> How severe the truncation is depends on the quality of the cassette recording you are trying to copy. As a gross over-generalization, professionally-recorded cassette tapes from the 1990s or later (or recordings which have been digitally remastered), which have NOT been played many times, may transfer well with only a few short truncations at the beginning of some tracts. Older cassettes (even if commercially recorded), heavily used cassettes, cassettes which have been copied from other cassettes, or privately recorded cassettes, are much less likely to be converted well. In very severe cases, only the first few words of a paragraph or a long section may be recorded.> If you want to record vinyl records to MP3, DO NOT record the records to cassette tapes, and then try to convert the cassette tape recordings to MP3. Instead, use an audio patch cord from your record player (or amplifier/receiver) AUX OUT to the AUX-IN (microphone in) of your computer and audio software (such as “Audacity”). You need an amplified source, but don't set the volume too high -- you'll need to experiment a little. Alternatively, you can probably use an audio patch cord from your record player (or amplifier/receiver) AUX OUT to the AUX-IN of this player/converter, but I have not tried this.> If you want to convert an Audio CD to MP3, DO NOT use this player/converter. Instead use Windows Media Player to "rip" the recording directly to MP3. A digital "rip" is much faster and will be much higher quality.--- If you want to copy a CD containing music or audiobook files which are already in MP3 format, then no conversion is necessary – you can copy them to a to your computer by simply dragging and dropping (or "copying and pasting"), and then copy them to your mp3 player, cell phone, etc.--- I think that Windows Media Player will burn audio CDs from mp3 recordings if you prefer to use a CD player which does not play mp3 recordings directly (some CD players do support mp3 recordings).> If you want to make new, original, MP3 recordings (or record a radio broadcast, etc.), DO NOT use this player/converter. The most convenient method is to use any "MP3 player" (many <$20), or a cell phone, or a tablet, or a portable computer which has a built-microphone and an audio recording feature (most do).EVALUATION> In addition to the often poor "snipping" of "songs", "sentences" or "paragraphs" into separate tracks, the "automatic" operation of this player/converter is extraordinary illogical and obtuse (see below). Why can't they have a "auto/manual" switch? Why can't "record to USB" be the default when the cassette is playing and a thumbdrive is plugged in? Why can't the recording controls (and indicator lights) be on the front or top of the player? When the player is in recording mode, why can't the volume automatically default to an appropriate fixed level?> This player/converter is not built for hard use. It works well enough sitting on your desk if you have a light touch and don't drop it. But it is NOT portable in the sense that it is likely to survive being carried around in a coat pocket for a couple of weeks to listen to cassette tape recordings, or used in a car, or used within 20 feet of a child, or any even loaned to your brother-in-law. Although operated with great care, my first player/converter died after recording 10 audiobooks. I'm now on my second player/converter.HOW TO> Cassette preparation. IMPORTANT (Do NOT skip this step). Holding the cassette in the palm of your hand slap it hard several times flat against a hard surface (such as a desk or table top). Turn it over and repeat. This aligns the tape in the cassette so that it will move with minimal friction (and is therefore less likely to jam or autostop prematurely, and will extend the life of any cassette player).> Set the volume loud (doesn’t have to be quite the maximum). It is a good idea to tape the volume knob in place with blue painter’s tape so that all of your recordings will be at the same volume level.> Set the silver “auto-reverse” switch on top to “auto-reverse” (sorta a backward C), NOT to “continuos play” (sorta a long flat O). The player is shipped in the "continuous mode", so you MUST switch it to "Auto-Reverse". You may want to tape the switch in place with blue painter’s tape.> Plug in the player to a USB power source (not supplied), such as your computer, with the supplied cord. Do NOT install batteries. Although the player will nominally operate on batteries, for recording to mp3 you need an absolutely constant power supply.> CAUTION – Beware that if you use your computer USB power supply, the power may cut off if the computer goes into sleep mode. If you hear a buzzing sound in your recordings, the fault may be a defective USB power supply. If so, try a different USB power supply.> Plug a small capacity (e.g. 500mb to 16G) thumbdrive into the USB port of this player/converter. Nominally, this player/converter will recognize thumbdrives up to 32G, but it will NOT record to my 32G SanDisk thumbdrive. Thumbdrives which have a flashing LED when recording are desirable, to make it easiest to monitor the process.> Install the cassette in the player on "side 1" (i.e., with the “side 1" label showing), and rewind (using the silver button on top), if necessary, to the beginning of the tape.> Press the BLACK “>>” button on the BACK of this player/converter until the green light on the back (just above the “ ” button), changes from green to blue (this takes 5 seconds, but it seems like much longer). Note, the green light will not be on unless you have a thumbdrive installed.> Press the silver PLAY button (on top) all the way down until it catches and the tape starts playing.> Press the BLACK “o||” button on the back until the blue light on the back starts flashing (which means that MP3 tracks are being recorded). If the blue flashing light turns back to a solid light after a few seconds, then mp3 recording has stopped (even if the cassette is still “playing”), probably meaning that there is an issue with your thumbdrive.> It is a good idea to make little sticky labels to identify the ">>" and “o||” buttons.> Set this player/converter on a soft surface (to absorb vibration), best leaning back at a slight angle, and let it run until it finishes. It will automatically stop when it has recorded BOTH sides. In the window of the this player/converter, if the tape hub is turning CCW (counter clockwise), then side 1 is playing (being recorded). If the tape is turning CW (clockwise), then side 2 is playing (being recorded).> You can use the supplied earbuds to monitor the recording process, but try not to touch or move the player while it is recording.> If no “TAPEMP3” folder exist on the thumbdrive, it will automatically be created, and the first track recorded will automatically be named “FV0001". As long as you have a thumbdrive plugged-in which contains the folder “TAPEMP3”, which contains tracks, additional new tracks will continue the numbering. That is, if the last track in the “TAPEMP3” folder is "FV0021", then the next track (even from a different cassette, even days later, will be automatically named/numbered "FV0022". If you want to start the numbering over again from zero (or, more precisely, from “FV0001"), then copy the tracts you want to your computer and then delete the tracks (or the entire “TAPEMP3” folder) from the thumbdrive.> (My procedure is to rename the finished “TAPEMP3” folder of the first cassette to "C01", and then convert the second cassette, which will automatically be named “TAPEMP3” , which {when finished} I rename to "C02", etc. When I've converted all the cassettes of an audiobook, I copy the "C01, C02, C03", etc folders to my computer and then erase all the folders on my thumbdrive. If each cassette is recorded separately, it is easy to find empty tracks to delete, and if there is some problem with the recording of a specific cassette, it is easier to fix.)> Listen to the newly recorded mp3 tracks in your computer. If there are extraneous tracks, particularly at the beginning or end of the tape, delete them. Be VERY careful – often tracks begin with long stretches of silence. At the very least, listen to the first 10 seconds, the middle 10 seconds, and the last 10 seconds of a track before you decide that it is blank and may be deleted.

I like that it's easy to use and figure outThis is what I originally wrote:However after a month, my fast forward button quit working, the auto reverse went haywire. Meaning the tape player would switch sides at random times in mid record. The worst was when it damaged two tapes. One time it snapped the film and one was damaged, but salvageable.The instructions said to go to the website if I have any issues, however, when searching for this tape player, there's no mention of it anywhere.UPDATE: The part about the website is true unfortunately. However, I'm about 90% sure it was a bad cassette that caused the issue NOT the converter. I'm going to do a test run on a dummy tape to make sure, but so far I may have jumped the gun on my previous statement out of frustration.FINAL UPDATE: Ok, yes it was a bad cassette that caused my issue. The cassettes in question were the Maxell UR 120s. IEC Type 1-Normal. They came in a red case and I bought and used them to record my radio shows in the late 90s early 2000s. DON'T put them in the converter especially if they're not rewound and have been sitting for a long time. That part of the tape was warped on mine and the converter ate them up. So what I did, was I used another cassette player from a boom box I bought new a few years ago. I connected the headphone jack to the aux on the converter and haven't had an issue since.I do recommend this converter. It's been a blessing for me because I was trying to avoid buying a laptop just for my project. I still use my fiancee's laptop, but only to empty my flash drive and transfer everything to an sd card so I can listen to it on my phone and rename the files their appropriate title. Thanks for reading this and good luck with whatever you plan on using this for.